Soap-lock.



N0. 639,!99. Patented Dec. 12', I899.

D. R. McKIM.

SOAP LUCK.

(Application filed Aug. 22, 1899.)

(No Model.)

33 L (lbw/0W Unirrnn STATES PATENT DAVID R. MCKIM, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SOAP-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,199, dated December12, 1899.

Application filed August 22, 1 899.

To all whom zit may concern:

Be itknown that I, DAVID R. MCKIM, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSoap-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

'and exact description of the invention, such serted from the outsideand may be termed a key. This key is secured to a station ary support bymeans of a chain or other suitable means.

The device will now be described in detail, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates my improved device applied to acake of soap, which is shown in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection taken through the device, shown in detail. Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken on the line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. t is a fragmentary perspective viewof the device. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line Y Y, Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in theviews, let the numeral 5 designate a device of any suitable externalcontour inclosing a small chamber 5. As shown in the drawings, the part5 is of double-convex shape eXteriorly. Attached to the part 5 andprojecting into the chamber thereof, as shown at 6, is a tube 6. In

one side of the device 5 is formed an aperture 5 by punching the metal'or other material 5 inwardly to the dotted-line position in Fig. 3, thesaid part 5 occupying an inclined position and projecting in front ofthe inner extremity of the tube 6, being support- Serial No. 728,188,(No model.)

ed by the uncut portion of the metal on one side of the orifice. Thispart 5 is slotted to form a claw. A key having an enlarged innerextremity 7 is then passed through the tube 7 and into the chamber 5until the head 7 occupies a position beyond the claw 5, the latterhaving yielded sufliciently to allow the key-head to pass to thisposition. The slot in the claw is large enough to receive the body ofthe key, but not the head, which forms a stop and prevents the return ofthe key as the latter is drawn outwardly after insertion. When drawnoutwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the claw isdrawn to engagement with the inner end of the tube 6 which forms a stopagainst its further movement and locks the key in place. The outerextremity of the key which protrudes from the tube is provided with aneye 7 to which may be attached a chain 8 or other suitable retainingdevice, which is fastened to a convenient stationary support. (Notshown.)

The portion of the device comprising the two parts 5 and 6 is placed inthe soap when the cake or bar is cast or molded, the outer extremity ofthe tube 6 alone being visible. After the soap is used and the deviceexposed an instrument may be inserted in the orifice 5 and the claw bentoutwardly sufficiently to release the key, which is removed and used anindefinite number of times, as there is no wear thereon. The parts 5 and6 are discarded after the cake of soap is used.

The device has a tendency to prevent the cake of soap from breaking.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a soap-lockthe combination of a device loca'ted in the cake of soap, and a keyinserted from the outside, the parts being constructed and arranged toprevent the withdrawal of the key.

2. I11 a soap-lock the combination of a de-' vice comprising a chamberand a tube connected therewith, said device being located in the cake ofsoap, and a key passed through the tube into the chamber of the device,and means located in said chamber to prevent the withdrawal of the keyafter the latter has been inserted.

3. The combination of a small chamber having a hole formed in one sideof its wall, the metal or other material being punched inwardly to forma stop, an uncut portion being left to hold the stop in place; a tubeattached to said chamber, and a key passed through said tube into saidchamber, its inner extremity passing beyond the stop, which prevents theWithdrawal of the key.

4. The combination of a hollow device located in the cake of soap, andprovided with a tube whoseouter extremity is visible; a slotted clawlocated in the said chamber, and a key passed through the tube into thechamber, and provided with an enlarged extremity which passes beyond theclaw which straddles the body of the key, and engages a shoul-Witnesses:

PARIS M OKIM, AGNES NEVILLE.

